Carpenters: Their Greatest Hits And Finest Performances

Reader's Digest / PolyGram 3331 1997

Disc 1 - Close To You / Their Greatest Hits

1. We've Only Just Begun (Paul Williams / Roger Nichols)
2. Superstar (Leon Russell / Bonnie Bramlett)
3. Rainy Days And Mondays (Paul Williams / Roger Nichols)
4. Goodbye To Love (Richard Carpenter / John Bettis)
5. (They Long To Be) Close To You (Burt Bacharach / Hal David)
6. All You Get From Love Is A Love Song (Steve Eaton)
7. For All We Know (Fred Karlin / Robb Wilson / Arthur James)
8. I Won't Last A Day Without You (Paul Williams & Roger Nichols)
9. Hurting Each Other (Peter Udell / Gary Geld)
10. Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft (Klaatu)
11. Top Of The World (Richard Carpenter / John Bettis)
12. (Want You) Back In My Life Again (Kerry Chater / Chris Christian)
13. Ticket To Ride (John Lennon / Paul McCartney)
14. Sing (Joe Raposo)
15. Can't Smile Without You (Chris Arnold, David Martin & Geoff Morrow)
16. Bless The Beasts And Children (Barry DeVorzon / Perry Botkin, Jr.)
17. It's Going To Take Some Time (Carole King & Toni Stern)
18. Sweet, Sweet Smile (Juice Newton & Othat Young)
19. Touch Me When We're Dancing (Terry Skinner / J.L. Wallace / Ken Bell)
20. I Need To Be In Love (Richard Carpenter / John Bettis)
21. Solitaire (Neil Sedaka / Phillip Cody)

Disc 2 - Only Yesterday / Dreams And Memories

1. Only Yesterday (Richard Carpenter / John Bettis)
2. One More Time (Lewis Anderson)
3. Those Good Old Dreams (Richard Carpenter / John Bettis)
4. Don't Cry For Me Argentina (Andrew Lloyd Webber / Tim Rice)
5. Look To Your Dreams (Richard Carpenter / John Bettis)
   
   Yesterday Once More / Looking Back
6. Yesterday Once More (Richard Carpenter / John Bettis)
7. Fun, Fun, Fun (Brian Wilson / Mike Love)
8. The End Of The World (Sylvia Dee / Arthur Kent)
9. There's A Kind Of Hush (Les Reed & Geoff Stephens)
10. Help (John Lennon / Paul McCartney)
11. Jambalaya (On The Bayou) (Hank Williams)
12. Deadman's Curve (Jan Berry / Roger Christian / Artie Kornfeld / Brian Wilson)
13. Johnny Angel (Lee Pockriss / Lyn Duddy)
14. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes (Ben Weisman / Dottie Wayne / Marilyn Garrett)
15. Beechwood 4-5789 (William Stevenson / Marvin Gaye / George Gordy)
16. Bacharach Medley:
    a. Any Day Now (Bacharach / Hilliard)
    b. Baby It's You (Mack David & Burt Bacharach & Barney Williams)
    c. Knowing When To Leave (Burt Bacharach / Hal David)
    d. Make It Easy On Yourself (Burt Bacharach / Hal David)
    e. There's Always Something There To Remind Me (Burt Bacharach / Hal David)
    f. I'll Never Fall In Love Again (Burt Bacharach / Hal David)
    g. Walk On By (Burt Bacharach / Hal David)
    h. Do You Know The Way To San Jose? (Burt Bacharach / Hal David)
17. Please Mr. Postman (W. Garrett / B. Holland / F. Gorman / G. Dubbins / R. Bateman)
18. Reason To Believe (Tim Hardin)
19. Our Day Will Come (Mort Garson / Bob Hilliard)
20. One Fine Day (Carole King / Gerry Goffin)
21. Yesterday Once More (Reprise) (Richard Carpenter / John Bettis)

Disc 3 - When I Fall In Love / Romantic Gems

1. When I Fall In Love (Young / Heyman)
2. I Believe You (Dick & Don Addrisi)
3. When It's Gone (It's Just Gone) (Randy Handley)
4. Because We Are In Love (The Wedding Song) (Richard Carpenter / John Bettis)
5. Love Is Surrender (Ralph Carmichael)
6. Maybe It's You (Richard Carpenter / John Bettis)
7. Make Believe It's Your First Time (Bob Morrison / Johnny Wilson)
8. Little Girl Blue (Richard Rogers / Lorenz Hart)
9. This Masquerade (Leon Russell)
10. A Song For You (Leon Russell)
11. Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore (Richard Carpenter / John Bettis)
12. Now (Roger Nichols / Dean Pitchford)
13. I Just Fall In Love Again (Steve Dorff / Larry Herbstritt / Gloria Sklerov / Harry Lloyd)
    
    Silent Night / Beloved Christmas Classics
14. Silent Night (P.D. Orig. Music: Franz Gruber, Arrg & Adapted by Peter Knight)
15. Christ Is Born (Ray Charles / Domenico Bartolucci)
16. White Christmas (Irving Berlin)
17. Little Alter Boy (Hewlett Peter Smith)
18. Merry Christmas, Darling (Frank Pooler / Richard Carpenter)
19. Ave Maria (P.D. original music: Johann Sebastion Bach - adapted by Charles Gounod / this arrangement & adaptation by Peter Knight)

3 CD set, including an unreleased Bacharach Medley on Disc 2.

Liner notes:

A note from Richard Carpenter

"It is with great pleasure that Reader's Digest and I present Carpenters: Their Greatest Hits And Finest Performances. The set contains sixty-eight titles, including most of our singles and a number of other favored recordings. The selections included are quite diverse, ranging from Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft to Ave Maria, showcasing not only Karen's remarkable voice and versatility but the "Carpenters' sound" as well.

The recordings span the years 1969 (Ticket To Ride) to 1982 (Now). Since the interview with Reader's Digest Senior Music Editor Gary Theroux, which follows, concentrates aminly on our singles through 1977, I'd like to write a few brief words regarding some of the other tracks.

I Believe You was released in late 1978. It was written by Don and Dick Addrisi (who also wrote The Association's Never My Love). I feel Karen's performance on this track ranks with her finest. Because We Are In Love (The Wedding Song) was written by John Bettis and me at Karen's request for her wedding ceremony (August 31, 1980). It was also included in our tenth album, Made In America. Little Girl Blue and When I Fall In Love were both recorded for our third ABC television special, Space Encounters, in 1978. Ultimately, there was room for only one ballad in the particular segment and Little Girl Blue was selected. When I Fall In Love was subsequently featured in our fifth TV special, Music, Music, Music (1980).

Even though this set features sixty-eight titles, it was still a challenge for me to select which ones were to be included, as there are quite a few others of which I am quite proud. All things considered, however, I feel this Greatest Hits And Finest Performances collection represents the Carpenters' body of work quite well and hope the listener agrees.

Richard Carpenter

A note from Gary Theroux

On October 30, 1978, I spent a couple of hours interviewing Karen and Richard Carpenter in their bungalow on the A&M Record studio lot in Hollywood. They had just released their first Yuletide album, Christmas Portrait, and were in great spirits. Richard, as usual, was bursting with energy. Karen was warm, friendly and down-to-earth. I'll never forget her smile - just like the one she's wearing on the cover of this album. In the interview that follows, my questions are in bold face; postscript comments are in italics.

Gary Theroux

Last changed: Sun Jul 8 18:51:36 EDT 2007